I have a graphic view on it's way that I got off of ebay. It says it has an Caltar no. 1331 lens. 8.5 inch (215mm) f4.8 Ilex Calumet series s lens. Does anyone know if this is a decent lens. I can't seem to find too much info on it. I am new to view cameras and would appreciate any usefull info you might offer.

While the 'net is filled with this test and that design the truth is the kind of life the lens lead up until now has a bigger effect on it's performance than it's pedigree. Hence the only way to know is to test THAT lens.

I"m guessing it's a tessar formula, will have good movements, but if it on a GV and not a GVII you won't be able to do a lot of macro shots with it. Portraits, table top, some landscape will be fine.

Well, lets see what discussion this brings up
From the book...
The only Caltar S 8 1/2" f/4.8 listed is a convertible to 14" f/10. Says the 8 1/2 will cover 5x7 and the 14" 8x10. Made by Scheider.
The Ilex-Caltar 8 1/2 is a f/6.3 and not convertible.
I honestly can't say anything about the lens personally. But from the specs, it's one I wouldn't mind having at all. At 5x7 coverage, it'll give you plenty of movements on 4x5. And it converts to a 14" with 8x10 coverage.
It sounds pretty good to me!

Well, it's f/10 _only_ if it's a convertable. And as we found out with Dan, these references aren't always accurate... But that is the only Caltar f/4.8 listed in the book except for the 180mm convertable.
Maybe Campy can clear it up after he gets the camera? If he's lucky, and it a convertable, it will have a dual scale on the shutter, which apparently was originally a copal...
P.S., that should read "SchNeider" up there

"The Ilex Acuton was an f/4.8 lens of 6 elements in the Plasmat
configuration.
Ilex shows it was available in three focal lengths: 6", 7 1/2" and 8 1/2".
They had an angle of view of 70 degrees (again presumably this is stopped
down). These were convertible lenses, the rear element alone giving about
twice the focal length of the combined lens. Two aperture scales were
marked
on the shutter. The 8 1/2" Acuton must have been the same lens as the
Ilex-made 215mm Caltar-S that Calumet once offered. Unlike the Caltar-S's
in
other focal lengths which were f/5.6 lenses made in Germany, the f/4.8
Caltar-S was sold as a convertible lens."

I received the camera and lens. On the lens itself it says 8.5 inch(215mm) f4.8 Ilex-Calumet Series-S Caltar no. 1331. The shutter is an Ilex no.3 Acme f4.5. There is only one set of f-stops. Does this mean it is not a convertable or not the original shutter? The speeds are off so I will probably send it to SK Grimes for CLA.

There is always the possibility that the lens is correct as stated. Apparently there were quite a few lenses under contract from Ilex and some of them never saw the Caltar/Calumet name. From what I've read, many of them were then marketed by Ilex under various other names. one of them being "Acuton", which happens to include a 215 f/4.8 which cover 8x10 and is not convertable. Or it could be the convertable lens without a dual scale?
If you'r going to send it to Grimes, ask him. Or, you could just pull the front element off and try focuing at infinity. If it does focus, and it's about 14 inches, and reasonably sharp, then it's the convertable lens and Grimes could equip the shutter with a proper scale for it. If it doesn't focus, then it's one of the other lenses and may fall into the "rare" category...

I tried taking front element off as you suggested, but I could not focus at infinty. If I take the rear element off I can focus fairly well, although I did not have a clear shot at infinity due to obstructions. You mentioned 14 inches, is that the distance for bellows extension?
I am new to view cameras and can't beleive how much I don't know.